Bloodstains On Handwritten Papers Matched Zara S Dna Profile Court Told

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Bloodstains found on sheets of paper with the handwriting of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir matched the 13-year-old girl’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) profile, the Coroner’s Court heard today. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININADAM ARININKOTA KINABALU: Bloodstains found on sheets of paper with the handwriting of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir matched the 13-year-old girl's Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) profile, the Coroner's Court heard today.
Chemist Nor Aidora Saedon, 52, from the Department of Chemistry Malaysia in Petaling Jaya, said the bloodstains were found on a paper marked "Y8", covering areas Y8(ii) to Y8(vii), and on a paper marked "Y1", covering areas Y1(i) and Y1(ii), which were analysed for DNA comparison.
She told the court that the bloodstains were consistent with each other and matched the DNA profile obtained from a bone specimen marked "WK37" and labelled "Zara Qairina Binti Mahathir."
"This indicates that the DNA identified came from the same individual," she said, adding that that bloodstain found on a paper labelled "WK15(9)(a)" and trace DNA collected from a book labelled "WK13", also matched.
In the previous proceedings on Sept 8, document examiner Nurul Atiqah Mohd Noh had testified that the handwriting on several documents marked "Y1" to "Y15" and "W1" and "W2", which she analysed, was consistent with Zara Qairina's handwriting specimens.
It was also reported that bloodstains were believed to be present on sheets with Zara Qairina's handwriting.
Nor Aidora said that a mixed DNA profile, consisting of one major female contributor and at least two minor contributors, was obtained from the bloodstain on area "Y8(i)" and from trace DNA on a stationery bag marked "WK1(a)", books "WK9" and "WK14",
as well as a blanket labelled "WK27".
"The DNA profile obtained from the bone specimen 'WK37' was the major contributor to this mixed sample, while the minor contributors could not be determined conclusively," she said.
Nor Aidora was testifying before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan as the 17th witness in the inquest into Zara Qairina's death.
She also said the papers "Y1" and "Y8" were complementary fits to each other.
The chemist told the court she inspected the police exhibits bag marked "Y8" and found inside it a piece of paper with several traces indicating the presence of blood. Seven areas were taken and marked as "Y8(i)", "Y8(ii)", "Y8(iii)", "Y8(iv)", "Y8(v)", "Y8(vi)" and "Y8(vii)".
Nor Aidora said she examined a paper marked "Y1" in the presence of Nurul Atiqah Mohd Noh, a document examiner from the same department on Aug 20. She found bloodstains on the paper and collected two samples, which she labelled "Y1(i)" and "Y1(ii)".
Earlier, Nor Aidora said she received 37 exhibits from an inspector on Aug 11, at around 7.05pm, including clothes, personal belongings, books, sheets of paper and several specimens such as bones, nails and cotton buds with blood stains.
She then received another exhibit bag marked "Y8" from another inspector on Aug 20 at around 8.28am. All exhibits were sealed and intact.
"Throughout the analysis, the exhibits were under my supervision at all times. I can confirm that none were tampered with. After completing the analysis, I resealed each item in its original packaging," she said.
In her witness statement, Nor Aidora said that DNA is a substance found in almost all human cells and is unique to every individual except identical twins. It carries genetic information inherited from both parents.
"There are specific regions within DNA that vary from person to person. By testing 21 genetic loci, a unique DNA profile can be produced. The process of obtaining this is called DNA profiling," she said.
Nor Aidora also said the DNA Laboratory at the Chemistry Department Malaysia is equipped with internationally accredited instruments such as Real-Time PCR, Thermal Cycler and Genetic Analyser, and follows globally accepted forensic procedures.
"In my field of work, I usually conduct DNA analysis on biological evidence for forensic cases such as murder, rape, paternity, fights, drugs, kidnapping, robbery, housebreaking and so on.
"I have also given testimony many times in the High Court, Sessions, Magistrate and Syariah Courts.
"To the best of my knowledge, my testimony was accepted by the courts," she said. - NST

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